Trajectories of Violent Behavior Among Females and Males

Both the psychological and criminological fields have long hypothesized the mechanisms that influence desistance from violent offending, but few studies have focused on violent females. In the current study, fewer females persisted in violence (25 percent) than males (46 percent); 19 percent of males increased in violent behavior. Females who developed impulse control and were employed were more likely to desist from violence. Violent offending was unrelated to other adult milestones. Developmental increases in impulse control may trigger desistance, and employment may maintain desistance from violence.